She's not a farmer, but she's certainly a valuable part of the farmers' marketing community. Amy Quirke bakes bread, Mediterranean breads baked on flat stones, containing New Mexico flour, veggies and fruits. It's part of a lifelong passion for baking and for incorporating different styles of baking utilizing what you find around you.
Amy started out in a big family, one of 9 kids. She calls herself a "gypsy" and says she traveled a lot, from Maine to Europe to New Mexico, always a chef. She moved to New Mexico expecting a 'desert' and found instead a 'Garden of Eden', she explains. The amazing variety of vegetables and fruits available here inspired her to bake special breads with an equally amazing variety of ingredients. A favorite of all the kids, much to their parents' surprise, is her roasted garlic and arugula bread. And anyone with a sweet tooth enjoys her apricot-peach, pumpkin-pinon, and apple-elderberry breads. She uses seasonal ingredients, so her 'menu' may change from time to time.
Amy gets as many of her ingredients as possible from New Mexico growers. She raises her elderberries herself and frequently picks fruit directly from the trees of local friends, often trading for loaves of her breads. She really enjoys working for herself with the freedom to make her own decisions, make mistakes, and face consequences from which she can learn. Running her bakery, located in Santa Fe, makes her feel "very grown-up". Of course, there's a down side; Amy says the worst part is the need to be "very disciplined". "I have to be 'good' all the time", she says wryly, working all the time to make money, which seems to be at odds sometimes with her essential gypsy spirit. Still, she says, the 'worst' part is small compared to being able to work for herself and provide a top-quality product to people who are appreciative and faithful. "It's fun", she pointed out several times. "I enjoy everything I do."
What Amy likes best about the Los Alamos Farmers' Market is that it is a complete community event, "like a church picnic", she says. The town shows up each week and celebrates the market, taking it very seriously. Amy also likes the fact that Los Alamos is such an international community; she enjoys the great diversity.
Amy's advice to her customers is to "do the simple things in life with passion". "A lot of people have lost touch with that", she explains. "People should do something simple that doesn't hurt anyone. It feels really good."
Amy always has free samples out to try and invites all marketgoers to check in frequently and see what's new. You can contact Intergalactic Bread Company at (575) 779-0872.